City on Track to Reach 40 Miles of Streets with Separated Bike Lanes to Support Safer Biking
PHILADELPHIA – Celebrating National Bicycle Safety Month, the City and its partners are hosting events that will teach students how to bike safely, celebrate Indego bike share, highlight bicycle commuters, and commemorate bicyclists’ lives lost.
Supporting safer biking, the City is on track to reach its Vision Zero goal of adding separated bike lanes to 40 total miles of streets by 2025.
“Philadelphia has the highest percentage of people who commute by bicycle of any large city in the United States – and this Administration has always been committed to not only sustain but increase those numbers,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “As highlighted in our Vision Zero Action Plan, creating a high quality bike network remains a priority for my Administration. We are proud to announce the City has installed separated bike lanes on more than 24 miles of streets and are on track to reach our Vision Zero goal of 40 miles by 2025. We are proud to celebrate Bicycle Safety Month and remain committed to making our city’s streets safer for all.”
The City joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) National Bicycle Safety Month. The City’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS)’s Indego Bike Share, Safe Routes Philly, and Vision Zero PHL programs are organizing the events.
“During National Bicycle Safety Month, the City is inviting Philadelphians to join us in enjoying the nice weather and exploring our city by biking on our streets and trails,” said Kelley Yemen, Director of Complete Streets, Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. “No matter how a person chooses to travel, they deserve to reach their destination safely.”
To help people bicycling get to and from their destination safely and comfortably, Philadelphia’s bike network includes more than 39 lane miles of separated bike lanes (lane miles count direction of travel, representing all the network travel options available to people bicycling). Growing the bike network creates new opportunities for people to plan their bike route and navigate the city safely. The network also adds resiliency, with safe alternate routes in the event of a street closure or detour.
“People bicycling have more options than ever before when planning a safe bike route to their workplaces, shops, schools, or parks thanks to the progress we’ve made over the years,” added Yemen.
During National Bicycle Safety Month, the City and its partners will host the following events:
Bike & Roll to School Day
Wednesday, May 5, 7:50 a.m.
City officials will join Henry H. Houston Elementary School students, families, and staff in Mt. Airy to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day. Details will be issued in a separate media advisory, media RSVP is required.
Indego’s 2023 Expansion Update Press Conference
Friday, May 12, 11:00 a.m., Colombia Avenue North YMCA
Community partners and key stakeholders will celebrate Indego’s 8th year in service, 2023 system expansion, and continued transportation equity efforts. Details will be issued in a separate media advisory.
Ride of Silence
Wednesday, May 17, 6:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
City officials will join the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s Ride of Silence. The annual bike ride honors bicyclists who have been killed or injured by motor vehicles. For more information and to register, visit: bicyclecoalition.org.
Bike to Work & Wherever Day
Friday, May 19, 8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Penn Museum to Dilworth Park
City officials will join the Bike to Work & Wherever Day. The event is led by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and supported by Independence Blue Cross. For more information and to register, visit: bicyclecoalition.org.